Car-washing apparatus



Jan. 20,1931. w. PoMERoY 1,789,944 A GAR WASHING APPARATUS Filed July 27, 192'? e sheets-sheet '1 /QW l-BY rf fTraR/vfy.

Jan. 20, 1931. w. D. POMEROY y CAR WASHING' APPARUS '6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 27. 1927 4 s' w w my ,wln I Jan. 20, 1931. w. :LPOWEROY l 1,739,944.V`

CAR WASHING' APPARTUS Filed July 27. 192? 6 'seetslsnew s AZ'Arf/Vro/z Mam@ WIT ESS m www f77-T @Mays Jan. 20,4l `1931. w. n. PoMERoY v 1,789,944

CAR WASHING APPARATUS Filed July 27. 1927 `6 Sheets-Shale?, 4

I [Nro/e /rro Nays Jah. 20, 1931. w. D. PQMEROY 1,739,944

CAR WSHNG APPARATUS Filed July 27, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 7 S fw/mm? By Mcm/7770 NEYS;

'.lm. 20g 1931. w. D. P'OMROY 1,789,944

GAR WASHING Prunus 'ilgd img, 27, 1927 e snets-Sheet. A6

REvoLuT/o/v REvoLuT/a/v UNITED STATES PATE WLLIAM n. POMEROY, or SENECA FALLS,

INCORPORATED, OE SENECA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK Patented Jan. 20, 1931 NT OEEICE NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GOULDS` PUMPSl CAR-wAsrinxmfr APPARATUS Application ledJ'uly 27,

This invention relates to certain new andv useful .improvements in washing apparatus, and more specifically to an apparatus for Spraying fluid upon automobiles, altho capable of use for various and many purposes.

In car washers or outfits for spraying fluid upon cars or for lother similar purposes, high pressures, as for instance 300 pounds, are required, and it is found that no ordinary spray outfit is capable of Standing up very long under the strain of such pressures, or of satisfactory use in producing the result sought. v

Further, it is quite essential that the pressure should be maintained substantially-uniformv at the desired point, irrespective of whether the spraying device or devices are bey .ing used or not, and that so far Aas possible,

extreme pressure surges should be avoided in the system. Y

Further, in prior devices, it has been .customary to use a pump from whichthe volume discharge is quite uniform, varying not more than about 22 per Vcent during each cycle of movement, and with such a pump the operation of the regulator valve used has been un- Y satisfactory for the reason that with a pump having a very uniform discharge, the regula` tor valve will raise slightly of its seat When the required pressure exists in the system and will permit a portion of the dischar e from the ump to continuously by-pass bac to the inta e of the pump and a condition of Sub- Stantial equilibrium will existin the system.

This continuous by-passing of a portion of the fluid from the pump gives a very high velocity discharge between p the regulator valve and its seat, which cuts out the valve audits seat very rapidly, and further, the full load is maintained on the motor driving the pump, with the result that excess power has been used and the operative life of the apparatus has been brief.

` I have discovered that by the use of a single cylinder double acting pump in which the volume of discharge varies substantially duri ing each cycle, as for instance a variation ranging from 0 to 132 per cent, as illustrated in Figure 6, that a regulator valve ca-n be constructed for use with such a pump which will open suddenly and fully taking celeration ,of

153277. Serial'No. 208,801'.l

the entire d ischargefromthe pump and rel lieving most ofthe pressure in the system` and permitting the pump to merely circulate the fluid until such time-as the pressure conditions controlling the regulator` valve change to permit sudden and complete closing of such valve. Y

A further object resides in the provision of a structure in which the regulator valve cuts in and cuts out at comparatively infrequent intervals so that the apparatus will not chatter itself to pieces during a comparatively Short period of use.

A .further object and advantage resides in the provision `of a `regulator cushioning chamber'preferably adjacent thev pump to Substantially eliminate lexcess pressure conditions resulting in the system from rapid aci fluid when closes Suddenly, of said valve. I

The combination of elements aty present and to cushion' the operation deemed essential to accomplish the advanthe .by-pass valve e tages above described,and other advantages that will hereinafter appear from the followmg description, involves primarily a single cylinder double-acting pump discharging into an air chamber having very considerable capacity as compared to pump per cycle with a check valve to prevent flow of fluid back into the pump cylinder combined with a by-pass and valve controlling the same so denly and fully, of the pump, and at the same time relieving most of the pressure in the System back of the check valve controlling the discharge air or cushioning chamber, and an auxiliary air proportioned as to open sudthe discharge of the f l I taking the entire discharge l chamber for cushioning the operation of the I regulator valve and for taking care of any excess pressure conditions that would result from sudden 'closing ofthe regulator valve.

Other objects and advantages-relate to the details of the structure, and the form, relation and association of the parts thereof, all as'will more fully appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 'l is an elevation of an apparatus of this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus illustrating portions in section.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3,Figure 2.

Figure 4l is av section on line 4.-4, Figure 2, but showing` the regulator cushioning chamber in full lines.

Figure 5 is a section on line-5-5, Figure 2, but showing the regulator cushioning chamber and regulator valve insectionf.

Figure 6 is a chart illustrative of the volume discharge for each cycle from a single cylinder double acting pump as herein `dis closed. -V Y.

The apparatus as here illustrated co1nprises a single cylinder double-actingl pump, perhaps best shown and illustrated in Figure 3. The cylinder 1- of this pump opens at opposite ends into the `Waterways or pump chambers -2- a-nd respectively, each of these chambers being provided with an inlet valve andA an outlet valve -5-. These valves may be of the composition disk type, and are normally held to their seats by springs, as shown, the springs being properly tensioned to effect the desired function. Y

The inlet pipe orconduit -6-, Fig. 1, which may be connected yto any suitable source of fluid, as for instance, a Water main, discharges into the inlet manifold 47'-, FiOi. 3, for supplying fluid thru the passageways controlled by valves to the respective Water-ways or chambers`- 2- and and upon the pressure V4strokes of the piston 8 mounted in cylinder -1-I, they fluid is alternately forced under pressure through t-he passageways controlled by the outlet valves 5 into an outlet manifold -9-. connected by pipe or conduit 10- leading through a passageway -11-, Fig. 5, to the base of a discharge cushioning or air chamber 12 through al passageway 13l controlledV by valve 111 normally held by spring 15 to its seat, and operating to prevent the return of fluid from the discharge air chamber 12 to the outlet side of the pump. The discharge air-chamber 12 is of very considerable capacity as compared with the capacity of the pump per cycle of operation, and it is desirable to maintain a considerable air pressure in the chamber12 to eect the desired cushioning result, and for hat purpose a pipe 16, Fig. 5, may penetrate the Wall of the air chamber and may lead tov any source of air under pressure as controlled by a valve 17, gauge 18 being provided for indicating pressure. T he piston 8, Fig. 3; is reciprocated through the medium of a piston rod 19 extending outwardly throughV a stuffing box 2O and gland 21 secured thereto, the stuffing box and gland forming a, fluidi-.tight joint to prevent the escape of fluid from the pump along the piston-rod 19.

A yoke 22 is secured to the outer end of the piston rod and is connected at its opposite ends to side rods 23 and2et, Fig. 2,7disposed upon opposite sides of the pump and extending substantially parallel with the piston-rod 19, the opposite ends of these side rods 23 and 24 connected respectively to a cross-head consisting of the parts numbered 25, 26, Fig. 3, the'part 26 being guided in cylinder 27, suchk cross-head being actuated byy a connect-ing rod -28- mounted upon a bearing 29- eccentric with respect to gear -fOf for `rcvciproc'atingpiston 2G- as the gear is rotated.

Y Gear f30 may be driven from a smaller gear 31% which in turn is driven by a pul- .leyLr-BQf-,Fig 2, the pulley being driven asl by belt -33- from a second or smaller pulley #-254- mounted on the armature shaft 4354, Fig; 1, of an electric'motor -3-;

It will be apparent that as motor -DG-is driven, the piston -8',A Fig. 3, Willbe reciprocated by. movement of parts described" to alternately draw in and expel fluid to and rom the respective Water-Ways or chambers "2- and`3, and that the fluid under prcssure'will pass from the manifold -9-,

Fig. 5, by the opening vvalve 14'- into the discharge cushioning chamber 412- to produce the desired pressure. 1 f

In order that such pressure'm'ay be maintained under varying conditions of discharge from the chamber -12- through tubes or hose connections S7-e, Fig. 1,--connected to pipe '-38-, Fig. 5. through which the passage of fluid is controlledl as byy valve -39-,Fig.2,to spraynozzle ornoZzles-l'O-L,

Fig.,V 1, and in order that continuous-operation of thepump will not Yproduce an eX- cesspressure in the system beyond that desired, a regulator is Y provided adapted v to Vbe actuatedV by and in accordance Wit-h the pressure existing in the cushioning chamber -12-, and this regulator includes a lchainber -41-4, Fig. 5co'nnected by pipe -42- to lthe loiver portionof the discharge- Vcushioning chamber -12- so that substantially the same pressure will exist in chamber 4las exists in the chamber -12-L One Wall, as here shown, the upper wall-of chamber -41- includes a flexible diaphragm -f-l2- backed by aslidable member or piston -/13-. A valve-operating rod --l4- is connected to the piston *4:3- and' at-its upper end loosely engages avalve -45- coutrolling the passage of" fluid from the manifold -'-9-`- through pipe -46-, vchamber ,-47-, to a pipe -48- leading, in this instance to the suction line -'6- which returns the fluid to the manifold -7- of the pump.

lVhen valve '-45- is pushed upwardly from its seat so as to completely open the passageway from manifold +9- to pipe -48-3 it Will be apparent that the fluid may flow directly from the outlet or pressure side of the pump to the inlet or suction side of the pump, under Which'circumstances the co Y ` and the l chart and this lthe functioning pump is'inerelycirculating theffiuid without the production .of any substantial pressure yin.

the system.

"Valve -45- is normally held to its seat by means of spring t9-f, kwhich spring is conlined between the upper side ofthe `valve'and the lower end of a regulator cushioning or air chamber 5M-whichv cushioning or air chamber is at all times in communication with the the pump. The piston +43- and valve rod 44- are normally maintained in the position shown in Figure 5 (with-valve e45- closed by spring -49-) through the medium of a. coil vspring 4*5l-* conlined between the upper surface of the piston 43- and the lower surface oi a stop disk -52 secured in any suitablel and preferably adjustabl manner to properly tension the spring -51- as by means of bolts 5553*- secui'ed to the wall of the chamber -4land which chamber is supported as for instance byl integral brackets -54-, Fig. 4, depending from a casting which includes the chamber -47- passageway leading to the pipe -48-- lVhen the suction line 6 is connected to a source of fluid under pressure, as for instance a city water line, a cushioning chamber -55- is provided which may be in the form of an elongated cylinder connected at its lower end by pipe -56- to the manifold `7` to absorb shocks and totend to maintain a uniform pressure in the fluid supplied to the inlet side of the pump.

The operation of the regulator of this apparatus will be understood from the following Figure 6 is a chart showing the volume discharge from the pump herein disclosed and is given so that the new and different wayin which my apparatus functions and the reason therefore can be better understood. The type of pump herein disclosed has during each revolution an average discharge indcated on the chart as 100% but during each revolution the volume of discharge varies from 0 to about 132 per cent of the average volume discharge as indicated on the ymaximum discharge takes place twice during each revolution as hereinafter explained. This variation oi volume discharge has a very important bearing on of my structure and in order to have a structure which will properly function it is essential that a pump having a wide variation in volume discharge be used.

When the apparatus is in operation valve -45, Fig. 5, remains closed until a desired pressure is built up within the discharge cushioning chamber -l2. At that time the builtup pressure in chamber -l2 also t0n 43% must be greater than exists in chamber -41- and this pressure exerted upon the diaphragm -42 and pisthe sum of outlet side or manifoldh-Q; of

.tion of equilibrium the pressures of vsprings -494 and #-51% plus the pressure on top of the valve h45- oi" else `the valve would not open, and for that i in Figure 6 where substantially all discharge from the pump ceases momentarily, and there is substantially no pressure on top of valve `45, the check valve -14-, preventing the return of any pressure from chamber `lZ- g the valve T45- will snap wide open, due to the fact that under such circumstances the pressure in chamber 41-` becomes substantially greater than the `forces opposing it,

and valve 45 w-illremaiii wide open, per-V initting'by-passing of'substantially the entire capacity of the pump until pressure in airchainloer l2 p pressure in chamber 41 is less than the forces tending to close valve 45, fat which time valve 45 will start to close.

It the pump usedfhad a fairly constant discharge. it would tend to build up a condiin the system between the forces tending to open valve 45 and those tending to close it, and the valve would staypartially open, allowing a portion of the discharge from the pump to by-pass and acondition of equilibrium would Vbe reached', but with the Variable volume dischargev pump here disclosed, the volumedischarge of which is illustrated inrFigure '6, it is apparent that at points Bin each cycle of operation, a very considerable extra volume of water. is being discharged from Y the 'space between valve 45 and its seat, and

will build up aL momentary Vincreased pressure `on top of valve. 45, and

this increases the force tending to close valve 45 to such: a pointthat the valve snaps closed suddenly.

.lVith sudden closing of the valve 45, an eXV cess pressure conditionv would be builtup in" the system due to the. fact that thereis a considerable mass of stationary water vin the pipes connecting between the pump and air chamber 12, and this water would have to be very suddenly accelerated were it not for the provision ot cushioning chamber 50, andA the inclusion of such aregulator cushioning' chamber is esstential to the satisfactory operation ofthe structure herein disclosed, and with a regulator valve operating as disclosed.v and upon sudden closing of valve 45, injurious excess pressure conditions lare not built up in the system for thereason that chain# ber 50 constitutes'a space for receiving excess drops to such a pointV that the" ilo fluid, such space being made available by the compression of air in chamber f-50-.

The lay-pass valve a5- must be so proportioned that there is a proper relation between the forces teu-ding to open the valve and those tending to close it Within the range in which it is desired to maintain pressure in the discharge air chamber -lQ-- It is not only desirable, hut quite essential that the regulator valve shall-operate at as infrequent intervals as possible, and the tact that the air chamber -v-lis very large as compared to the capacity ot the pump per cycle has a substantial bearing on the frequency of operation of the regulator valve, and this orthe reason thatl the greater volume of air under compression in theair chamber, the longer Will be the period of charge or discharge or' the air chamber with the maintenance of pressure Within given limits.

The apparatus hereinillustrated is of -comparatively rigid 'and permanent construction, substantially automatic in operation, compact in form and arrangement, efficient in operation and in the consumption of energy for eecting such operation, and altho I have shown and described specific details of a. perhaps preferred installation, together with the particular design and relation of the parts thereof, I do not desire to restrict myself` to the details of form, construction, or arrangement, as various changes and modifications may be made Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: V

l. An apparatus of the class described comprising a pump, a discharge air chamber having an inlet in communication With the pump and having a capacity many times the volume of fluid discharged by the pump at each cycle of operation, a valve controlling such inlet, sait discharge air chamber having an outlet separate from the said inlet, a by-pass conduit in communication with the pump outlet, a regulator valve controlling the passage of fluid through said conduit, means actuated in accordance withl the pressure of fluid in the discharge air chamber for opening said regulator valve to permit bypassing or' fluid, and a cushioning air charn-Y ber in communication with said bypass conduit at a point adjacent the pump outlet, and opening downwardly above the regulator valve. l

9.. An apparatus of the class described comprising a. pump, a discharge air chamber having a capacity many times the volume of fluid discharged by the pump at each cycle of operation, a conduit leading from the pump outlet to the discharge air chamber, a valve controlling communication between said conduit and the discharge air chamber, said discharge air chamber having an outlet separate `from its valve controlled inlet, a

by-pass conduit in communication with the .pump outlet, a regulator valve lstructure including a valve controlling the passage of fluid through said by-pass conduit, a fluid chamber having a movable Wall adapted to actuate said valve, aseparate conduit connecting the discharge air chamber with the said regulator valve chamber, and a `cushioning air chamber' in communication with said by-pass conduit at a point between said valve and the pump outlet.

1n witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this tvvventydirst day of July,

VILLIAM D. POMEROY. 

